Two-hand control device



July 7, 1936.- H. E. PAGE TWO-HAND CONTROL DEVICE Original Filed May 9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

July 7, 1936. H. E. PAGE 2,046,531

TWO -HAND CONTROL DEVICE Original Filed May 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 30 aa as I l 1 4 [I726 I 50 I INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented J1; y 7, f:

TWO- 1| 5 f CONTROL DEVICE Herbert E. Page, Syracuse, N. Y.

8 Glaims.

This invention relates to a two hand control for keeping both hands of the operator occupied in order to prevent injury while operating a pressing machine.

One .of the objects is to provide means to prevent the operation of the two hand control if 'either of the two operating handles has been previously tied down or secured in a depressed position in any manner so as to make it impos- 10 sible to operate the machine controlled by this device with only one hand, thus preventing possible injury to the operator.

Another object is to provide means for preventing operation of the machine controlled by 5 this device if either hand is, removed from the control handles at any time during the entire operating cycle of the two hand control.

A further object is to provide means for automatically resetting the two hand control device 2 to its original position from any position that it may have been placed in by the operator so that at all times it will be ready for immediate I operation.

Another object is to provide means for auto- 2 matieally opening the pressing machine controlled by this device at a. predetermined time.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation in which the full lines indicate the device in neutral position and the dotted lines indicate the position with the right hand operating handle depressed.

Figure 2 is a. similar view in which the full lines indicate the position resulting from first depressing the right hand operating handle and then depressing the left hand operating handle, and the dotted lines show the position resulting 40 from first depressing the left hand operating handle and then depressing the right hand operating handle.

Figure 3 is a. similar view in which is shown the position resulting from depressing both operating 45 handles simultaneously.

Figure 4 is a side elevation indicating the device in a neutral position similar to that shown by the full lines in Figure 1.

As illustrated, the base i is any suitable portion 50 of the machine which is controlled by this device and on which is mounted the bracket 2 said bracket having a. projection 3 located at its lower end in which is movably mounted the rod 5, Figure 4.

The upper end of the rod 6 is provided with an overlying projection or shoulder 5, Figure 4.

The lower end of the rod 4 engages with the slot 6 in the arm I of a bell crank lever, said lever being pivotally mounted at 8 on the projection 9 of the bracket 2, the other arm i0 is connected by the rod l I to the reciprocally movable piston l2 of a fluid pressure controlling valve, Figure l.

, A retracting spring I3 is attached to the upper end of the arm in and acts to yieldingly hold the bell crank lever in the position as shown with the arm 1 against the stop It, Figure 1.

The center portion of the piston l2 of the fluid. pressure controlling valve has a smaller diameter as shown at l5 thus allowing a space IE to exist between the smaller diameter l5 of the piston l2 and the walls of the cylinder l'I, Figure 1.

A fluid supply conduit l8 enters the cylinder wall I! at a point approximately in the center as shown which allows fluid under pressure to flow into the space 16, and another conduit I9, one end of which is connected to a fluid pressure motor that operates the press, enters the cylinder wall I! at a point near the rear end of the cylinder, said end being open to the atmosphere, Figure 1.

It is now evident that under the conditions as shown in Figure 1, the fluid under pressure that is inthe space "5 is confined in this space and cannot escape, however if the projection 5, Figure 4, is moved upwardly this motion is transmitted through the rod 4, Figure 1, and the bell crank arms 1 and I0 and the rod II to the piston 12 and causes said piston to move against the action of the retracting spring l3 toward the rear of the cylinder l1 until it assumes the position as shown in Figure 3.

The space it containing the fluid under pressure has now been moved until it is connected with the opening in the conduit l9, as shown in Figure 3, and the fluid can now flow through said conduit to the fluid pressure motor of the press and cause same to operate.

As soon as operating pressure is removed from the shoulder 5 then the retracting spring l3 causes a reversal of the above motion and the piston l2 again assumes the position as shown in Figure 1 in which it .will be noted that the l conduit I9 is now connected directly to the atmosphere through the rear end of the cylinder l1 and therefore any fluid under pressure which was trapped in the conduit I9 and also the fluid pressure motor, can now escape and said motor is free to assume its original position which is usually accomplished by retracting springs on mal power cycle pf the press.

A pair of hand operated members as levers 20 and 2| are pivotally mounted at 22 and 23 respectively on the brackets 24 and 25 mounted on the base I and said hand levers are yieldingly held up by the springs 26 and 21 in their inoperative positions as shown by the full lines in Figure 1.

Each of the hand levers 20 and 2| is provided with crank arms 28 and 29, said crank arms being connected by the links 30 and 3| to the ends of the horizontally extending lever 32, said lever having a central pendant arm 33 and a central vertically elongated slot 34, Figure l. v

At the lower end of the pendant arm 33 is a laterally projecting ofifset shoulder 35 adapted to engage, provided said shoulder is raised'vertical- 13!, with the shoulder 5, Figure 4.

A fulcrum pin 36 is passed through the slot 34 in the lever 32 and secured to the bracket 2, Figures 1 and 4, and the slot and pin connection between the lever 32 and the bracket 2 permits a vertical rocking movement and vertical rectilinear movement of the lever 32 for a purpose presently described.

A bell crank lever is pivotally mounted at 31 to the projection 38 of the bracket 2, said bell crank lever having a downwardly extending latch 39 adapted to engage with the pin 40 located in the arm 1, Figures 1 and 3.

This bell crank lever is provided with two ad,- ditional crank arms 4| and 42, one of which, as

4|, is connected by the link 43 to the horizontally projecting arm 44 of the foot operated pedal 45, said pedal being pivotally mounted at 46 on the bracket 41 and having attached to the arm 44 a retracting spring 51 and a dash pot 56 adapted to' retard the downward motion of said arm for a purpose presently described, Figures 1 and 3, and the otherarm, as 42, having a roller 48 pivotally mounted at its upper end, said roller adapted to engage with the rounded surface of the dash pot cylinder head 49, Figure 1.

A piston rod 50 is reciprocally mounted at the end of the projection 38 of the bracket 2 the lower end of the rod 50'engaging with the slot 5| in the end of the arm'l and the upper end of said rod is connected to the piston 52, said piston being reciprocally mounted in the dash pot cylinder 53 which may be filled with any suitable fluid, Figure 1.

The piston 52 is equipped with suitable checkvalve means which allow said piston to travel downwardly without restriction through the fluid contained in the cylinder 53 but which tend to prevent any relative upward movement of the piston 52 by trapping the fluid above said piston.

The cylinder 53 rests against the projection 38 but is not rigidly attached to said projection and ,is provided with a by-passing release 54 con trolled by a relief valve 55 to regulate the flow of fluid from the upper end of said cylinder to pressed until it rests against a suitable stop as shown by the dotted lines in Figure thi will raise the arm 29 and the link 3| and cause the lever 32 to swing from the position as shown by the full. lines to the position as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1, due to the slot and pin connection previously described. 5

It is now clear that when the lever 32 swings to the position as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1 the shoulder 35 is thrown out of-vertical alignment with the shoulder 5 located at the end of the rod 4 and therefore these shoulders 10 cannot engage thereby preventing the operation of the piston |2 by failure to lift the rod 4, Figures l and 4.

It will'now also be noted that if one of the hand levers, as 2|, has been tied down or seis cured in any manner in a depressed position the lever 32 will assume the position as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1 and if the hand lever 20 is now depressed then the. lever 32 will be moved from the position as indicated by the dotted 20 lines in Figure 1 to a point where the side of the shoulder 35 will strike against the side of the shoulder 5 preventing any further movement of the device and the position will then be as shown by the full lines in Figure 2, making it impossible 25 for the shoulders 35 and 5 to engage in the proper manner and thereby preventing the operation of the piston l2 by failure to lift the rod 4.

From the ,foregoing it will also be apparent that if the hand lever 2| is allowed to remain in 30 its neutral position as shown by the full lines in Figure 1 and the hand lever 20 is first depressed then the lever 32 will swing in. the opposite direction from that shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1 and the device will be inoperative as 35 previously explained.

Furthermore, if the hand lever 20 is first depressedor secured in any manner and then the hand lever 2| is depressed, the device will assume a position as shown by the dotted lines in 40 Figure 2 and the shoulder 35 will strike against the other side of the shoulder 5 and the device will be inoperative.

Therefore this two'hand control device cannot be converted into a one hand control'by first se- 45 curing either of the hand levers '20 or 2| in a depressed position and then attempting to operate the press with one er the hand levers. v

On the other hand, when both of the hand levers 20 and 2| are depressed simultaneously 50 from their normal inoperative positions as shown by the full lines in Figure 1 to their operative positions as shown in Figure 3 it would efiect an upward bodily movement of the lever 32 and thereby cause the shoulder 35to engage with the 55 shoulder 5 on the rod 4 and carry said shoulder upward vertically, Figure 3.

This vertical movement of the shoulder 5 is transmitted through the rod 4 and the bell crank arms land In and the rod II to the piston I2 of a fluid pressure controlling valve thus causing the press to close as previously described.

- It will now be observed that during the upward bodily movement of the lever 32 caused by simultaneously depressing the hand levers 29 and 2| if operating pressure is released from either of said hand levers, as for example handle 20, then the retracting spring 26 will return said handle to its neutral position,'causing the arm 28 to swing downwardly and this motion will be transmitted through the link 30 to the lever 32 causing said lever to swing from the position as shown in Figure 3 to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1 and the shoulder 35 will swing to one side and be thrown out of vertical 3'5 I alignment with the shoulder 5 disengaging from said shoulder and allowing shoulder 5 to move downwardly from the position as shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 1 due to the action of the retracting spring I3, thus stopping the fiuid pressure supply to the fluid pressure motor of the press and allowing said press to open as previously explained.

If, instead of the handle 20 being released, the handle 2| is released during the, upward bodily movement just described, then the lever 32 will swing in the opposite direction throwing the shoulder 35 out of vertical alignment with the shoulder 5 and the lever 32 will assume the position as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2, thus also causing the press to open.

Therefore, this device keeps both hands of the operator occupied at all times and under all con-v ditions and the retracting springs 26 and 21 will return the lever 32 to the original neutral position shown by the full lines in Figure 1 from any position thatitis possible for the operator to have placed said lever, thus always maintaining the device in a position ready for immediate operation by the operator.

The lever 32 is thus a coupling member between the manuals or handles 20 and 2| and the operating shoulder 5 for the control member or valve of the machine and the lever 32 is T shaped with the head of the T forming an equalizing lever to the ends of which the manuals are connected by the links 30 and 3| and the leg of which is in operative relation with the shoulder 5, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Due to the pin and slot connection 36 and 34, the lever 32 has a rectilinear movement when both of the manuals 2B and 2| are operated together or nearly so, and a shifting pivotal movement when either manual is operatedindependently; and this pivotal movement shifts the lever 32 out of operative relation with the shoulder 5, Figures 1 and 2.

Therefore the links 30 and 3| are connected to, and the shoulder 5 coacts with, the lever 32 at the angles of a theoretical triangular formation with the links 30 and 3| connected to the triangle at the base angles and the shoulder 5 in operative relation with the apex, Figure 1.

When both of the handles 20 and 2| are depressed simultaneously the upward movement of the rod 4 will be transmitted through the arm 1 to the piston rod 5|] causing said rod to rise vertically, Figures 1 and 2.

In the broader aspect of this invention, the valve I5 is a power control member or an element for controlling the flow of power to a power operated device; the handles 20, 2| are operating means or members; the links 30, 3|, lever 30, rod 4, bell crank 1 and valve rod constitute an exemplification of connections between the operatingmeans and the power control member |5, so that upon operation of the hand operated means 2|], 2|, the control device or member I5 is actuated; and 40 constitutes latch means operable to hold the control member |5 in its operated position. The dash-pot 56 constitutes broadly means for delaying the movement of the latch means into its latching position, until the manuals 20, 2| have been held operated a predetermined time period. Also, in a less broad aspect of the invention, the rod 4 with its shoulder 5 constitutes one element of coupling means between the manuals 20, 2| and the control member or valve l5. The lever 32 constitutes a second element of the coupling means and the links .of power to a .motor device.

30, 3| connections between the second element and each of the manuals. The second element or lever 32 is normally engaged with the element or rod 4 through the inter-engagement of the shoulders 5 and provided respectively on the element 4 and the arm 33 of the element 32, this element or lever 32 being shiftable by the individual operation of either of the manuals to carry the shoulder 35 laterally in one direction or the other into and out of interlocking or coupling engagement with the shoulder 5, so that substantial simultaneous operation of both hand levers is required to hold the shoulder 35 engaged with or in juxtaposition to the shoulder 5. Thus, the lever 32 and rod 4 constitute two elements of a coupling means betweenthe manuals 20, 2| and the control member or valve |5, the lever 32 being an element which is normally engaged with the other coupling element 4 and movable by the individual operation of either manual of either manual individually, and the lever 32 also constitutes a shiftable element normally arranged in central position where it permits, upon operation of both manuals simultaneously, the flow of power by the opening of the control device or valve l5 to the motor of a motor actuated device, and which is shiftable laterally in one direction or the other from its central or normal position, upon the operation of either manual individually and hence in a position to prevent the operation of the valve |5 or the flow It is held from shifting when both manuals are actuated substantially simultaneously. The links 30, 3| are one exemplification of means between the manuals 2|], 2| and an element shiftable laterally in opposite directions from normal or central position in one direction or the other upon individual operation of one or the other of the manuals.

The vertical motion of the piston rod 50 and the piston 52 tends to compress the fluid which which is between the piston 52 and the upper head of the cylinder 53, thus producing a pressure or force against the upper head of the cylinder 53 which causes said cylinder to move upward bodily as it is carried along with the movement of the piston 52 from the position as shown by the full lines in Figure 1 to the position as shown by the full lines in Figure 3.

When the cylinder 53 moves upwardly the rounded surface of the lower cylinder head 49 moves away from the roller 48 located at the upper end of the arm 42 of a bell crank lever thus allowing said bell crank lever to rock in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 31 from the position as indicated by full lines in Figure 1 to the position as shown by the full lines in Figure 3 due to the action of the retracting spring 51 acting through the arm 44, the link 43 and the arm 4|.

This movement allows the latch 39 to engage with the pin and thus holds the valve mechanism in the position as shown by the full lines in Figure 3 and allows the hands of the operator to be removed from the handles 20 and 2| and yet maintain the press in a closed position.

As previously explained, the dash pct 56 is adapted to retard the downward motion of the arm 44 and this delays the action of the latch 39 as it swings over to engage the pin 40 and this delay keeps the hands of the operator engaged in holding down the handles 20 and 2| and provides a time lag which allows the press to and, providing the action of the latch 39 was not delayed and immediately engaged with the pin.

40, then quickly thrusting either or both hands between the pressing surfaces of the press before it had time to close, Figures 1 and 3.

After the device has been locked in the position as shown by the full lines in Figure 3 and the hands have been removed from the handles 20 and 2| and the cylinder 53 has been raised to the position, as shown also by the full lines in Figure 3, then, as heretofore explained, the pressure caused by the weight of the cylinder 53 which exists in the fluid trapped between the piston and the top of said cylinder gradually forces this fluid through the by-pass 54 thereby allowing the cylinder 53 to drop vertically from the position as shown by the full lines to that shown by the dotted lines in Figure 3.

As the cylinder 53 reaches the bottom of its stroke the rounded surface of the lower cylinder head 49' engages with the roller 48, thus rocking the arm 42 about the pin 31 in a clockwise direc-- tion, thereby causing the latch 39 to swing away from the pin 40 as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3.

When the latch 39 releases the pin 40 then the retracting spring l3 will rotate the bell crank lever consisting of the arms I and I 0 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 8 thus moving the fluid pressure control valve piston l2 from the position as shown by the full lines in Figure 3 to that shown by the full lines in Figure 1, thereby opening the press as previously explained.

In this manner a, time element is secured by means of which it is possible. ,to control the time during which the press will remain closed and this time element may be varied by the by-pass valve 54.

If it is desired to open the press immediately without waiting for the stroke of the cylinder 53 to be completed, this can be accomplished at the will of the operator by depressing the foot operated pedal 45 which will cause the arm 44 to raise the link 43 and this motion will be transmitted through the arm 4| to the latch 39 and cause said latch to swing away from the pin 40 releasing said pin and permitting the retracting spring I 3 to move the pressure controlling valve piston l2 from the position as shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 1, thus allowing the press to open as explained previously.

I claim: r

l. Inatwohandcontroldevice,apairofmanuals, a control member for a motive power, an operating member connected thereto, a coupling member normally in operative relation with the operating member whereby movement of the coupling member operates the operating member, the coupling member being mounted to shift out of operative relation with the operating member at an angle to the former movement, and independent connections between the manuals and the coupling member and operating to shift the coupling member out of operative relation with the operating member when either manual only is operated, and to hold the coupling member in such operative relation when both manuals are operated and thereby actuate the operating member to operate the control member.

2. In a two hand control device, a pmr of man- 'uals, a control member for a motive power, an

otal movement when either manual is operated,

operating member connected thereto, a coupling member having means normally in operative relation with the operating member whereby movement of the coupling member operates the operating member, the coupling member being mounted to shift out of operative relation with the operating member at an angle to the former movement and independent connections between connections connected to the ends of the base of 20 the triangle and said lever being mounted to have pivotal movement when eithermanual is operated and a rectilinear movement when both are operated.

3. In a two hand control device, a pair of manuals, a. control member for a motive power, an operating member connected thereto, a coupling member having means normally in operative relation with the operating member whereby movement of the coupling member operates the operating member, the coupling member being mounted to shift out of operative relation with the operating member at an angle to the former move ment and independent connections between the manuals and the coupling member and operating to shift the coupling member out of operative relation with the operating member when either erating member and having a rectilinear movement when-both manuals are operated and a pivsaid pivotal movement shifting the lever out of operative relation with the operating member. 4. In a. two hand control device, a combination of a power control member, a pair of hand oper- 50 ated members, one for each hand, coupling means between the hand operated members and the control member, said coupling means including an element and connections between it and the control member, a second element and connec- 5 tions between it and each of the hand operated members, the second element being normally engaged with the first element and movable by the individual operation of either of the hand operated members out of coupling engagement with 60 the first element whereby substantially simultaneous operation of both hand operated members is required to maintain the coupling engagement between said elements.

5. In a two hand control device, the combination of a power control member, a pair of hand operated members, one for each hand, a coupling including two elements, one being connected to the power control member and the other being connected to the hand operated members, the

second element being normally coupled to the first element and comprising a lever pivoted between its ends and movable in one direction or the other on its pivot by the individual operation of either of the hand operated members and being also movable radially relatively to its pivotal axis upon simultaneous operation of the hand operated members.

-6. In a manually operated control device, the combination of a power control member, an operating member, and connections between the operating member and the control member, whereby upon the actuation of the operatingmember, the control member is actuated, of latch means operable to hold the control member in its operated position, and means for delaying the movement of the latch means into its latching position, after the operating member has been operated to its final position until the operating member has been held in its operated position for a predetermined time period by the operator.

7. A control mechanism for machines having an opening and closing movement, manual means for controlling the closing of the machine, .a latch for holding the machine closed, a second latch mechanism comprising a latch member, automatic means tending to engage the latch member and timed means for controlling the releasing of the flow of power to a. motor device, a pair of individuallyoperable hand operated members,

one for each hand, a shiftable element normally 1 arranged in central position to permit the flow of power to the motor device upon the actuation of both hand members substantially simultaneously and shiftable laterally in one directionor the other from central or normal position to prevent the flow of power to the motor device, upon the operation of either hand-member individually and means between the hand members and said element operable upon the individual actuation of either hand member to cause said element to be shifted in one direction or the other out of central position.

HERBERT E. PAGE. 

